News Releases

UWI SPEC 2024 International Half-Marathon & 5K Promotes Holistic Health

For Release Upon Receipt - November 15, 2024

St. Augustine


Tafari Waldron male winner of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon, completes the 13.1-mile course in one hour, nine minutes, 53 seconds. 
 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. November 15th, 2024 – This year’s 18th edition of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus’ International Half-Marathon and 5K spotlighted the work of The Dyslexia Association, raising awareness and twelve thousand dollars ($12, 000.00) for a worthy cause. The association is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) that supports dyslexics, parents, teachers, and members of the wider community. Their laudable efforts align with the theme of this year’s race: A Sound Mind and a Healthy Body.

The UWI works with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) to safeguard the integrity of the event which is recognised by the National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAA). By joining forces with the NGO, The UWI continues its long tradition of supporting local charities via this event. The UWI further champions the ideals of holistic health and education, as this year’s marathon will also support our student-athletes by providing sports scholarships.  

At the signal for the official start of the half marathon at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday 10th November, 872 registered participants began the 13.1-mile challenge on the World Athletics certified course. Fifteen minutes later, 884 participants took off in the 5K race. This year’s batch of seasoned runners in the half-marathon produced some varied results from 2023. Tafari Waldron clocked a time of 01:09:53 to secure first place. This was an improvement from his third-placed position in 2023. Second-placed went to Alex Ekesa finishing in a time of 01:09:54. Last year’s winner Nicholas Romany rounded out the top three with a time of 01:13:53. Collin Pereira, Donnell Francis, and Elvis Turner rounded off the top six males in this category.

 
Dr Akshai Mansingh Dean of The UWI's Faculty of Sport presents Samantha Shukla female winner of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon 2024 with her prize along with Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Antoine. 
 

In women’s category Samantha Shukla copped first place in a time of 01:37:06, moving up one spot from her second-placed finish in 2023.  Zara Suite-Stewart finished second in a time of 01:41:42, closely followed by Celine Lestrade in a time of 01:42:54 in third place. Aniqah Bailey, Christine Regis, and Juliet John-Sambrano finished fourth, fifth and sixth among the female half marathon runners.

Darius Harding won the 5K in 17:19, two seconds faster than last year’s winner George Smith 17:21. Raheem Modest placed second in 17:36 and Christopher Sammy rounded off the top three in 17:47. Khordae Lewis finished fourth in 17:50.   Shian Lewis was the top female runner, crossing the finish line in 20:47. She lowered the 2023 winning time of 22:12 by Chennai Moore by 1 minute and 25 seconds. Nyla Kerr 21:02 and Alexia John 21:58 finished second and third respectively.  Gianna Pichery finished fourth in 22:19.

In addition to the top performers in the half marathon and 5K, many participants achieved personal best times, and took pride in ringing our motivational celebratory bell. The 13.1 miles half marathon course entrants were guided along the traffic-free priority bus route (PBR) from UWI SPEC to La Resource Junction, D’Abadie before returning to the starting point. The 5K race caters to a more far-reaching target audience aiming for a fun-filled, stimulating event.

These international events are supported by veteran and burgeoning long-distance marathoners seeking to challenge their physical and mental fortitude. Similar to last year, persons who were unable to cheer the runners in-person had the opportunity to do so via social media. The event was live-streamed and timely updates were provided on all of The UWI’s social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This fostered global participation in the true sense of the term for all stakeholders and well-wishers.

Cash and non-cash prizes were distributed in many categories for this year’s race. The university extends sincere gratitude to all our sponsors, volunteers, and runners for making the 2024 installment of The UWI SPEC 2024 international half-marathon a resounding success. 

 
UWI SPEC 5K male and female winners Darius Harding [left] and Shian Lewis [right], completes the course in seventeen minutes, nineteen seconds and twenty minutes, forty-seven seconds respectively. 
 
 
 
Samantha Shukla female winner of the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon, completes the 13.1-mile course in one hour, thirty-seven minutes, six seconds.
 
 

 Tafari Waldron (T&T) and Alex Ekesa (Kenya) on the half-marathon course.

 

 And they're off! : runners take off at the start of the half marathon race.

 

Race Director Ms. Grace Jackson [far left] and Dr Anand Rampersad Head of the St Augustine Academy of Sport make a presentation to Chair of Dyslexia Association of Trinidad & Tobago Ms. Suzanne Gregory at the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon and 5k.

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The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. One of only two regional universities in the world, it comprises five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). 
Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

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